Matthew Bourne - Irrealis

The Leaf Label

£17.80

Format: LP
Catalogue No.: BAY117V
Barcode: 843190011711
Release Date: 27 May 2022
Genre: Piano/Jazz/Modern Classical

Limited edition black vinyl LP (750 copies worldwide).
Matthew Bourne follows 2017’s Isotach album, and recent collaborations with Keeley Forsyth and Nightports, with a collection of prepared piano pieces.
Irrealis was recorded in a single session, each take played as live without any overdubs. Having taught himself the basics of prepared piano by throwing confectionary into his school’s instrument, elements of these experimentations played a key role in Bourne’s early performances. This culminated in an infamous performance piece which saw the explosive musical demolition of an upright piano with a sledgehammer.
Far from the staid academic process the discipline is often approached with, Irrealis sees a restless improvisational musician explore the possibilities of his instrument with a box of nuts, bolts and Blu-Tak, and a sense of playfulness and spontaneity.

We are releasing the track ‘Alice’, alongside a beautiful video made by Ross Downes, with whom Bourne worked on the recent Keeley Forsyth album. You can watch the video here:

● Irrealis is Matthew Bourne’s first solo release on The Leaf Label in five years – his first for prepared piano
● Having prepared the piano for work on a lengthy job soundtracking a film Bourne took the opportunity to use the set-up to let loose - with no real idea what these pieces would add up to, we’re given a rare snapshot of Bourne playing for his own enjoyment
● Strictly limited run of just 750 copies on black vinyl for the world
● Lead track ‘Alice’ is released to coincide with Piano Day 2022 and is accompanied by a video directed by Ross Downes
● Bourne collaborated with Split on the print used for the artwork - reflecting the spontaneous way in which the music was created, the artwork was made straight into the bed of a printing press with no initial sketches or digital mock-ups and using only what was to hand
● In addition to his celebrated solo output, Bourne’s list of collaborations is forever growing and includes the likes of Visionist, Franck Vigroux, John Zorn, Annette Peacock, Nils Frahm, Nostalgia 77, Amon Tobin and Broadway Project
● 2017 - 2019 saw a number of duo shows and a short tour with the late Keith Tippett, the culmination of a 20-year relationship based on mutual admiration and inspiration
● UK promo by Thea Hudson-Davies at The Leaf Label <thea@theleaflabel.com>

LP: A1. Shri A2. Asaf A3. Dušan B1. Jane B2. Laurent B3. Alice B4. Armando

Matthew Bourne live:
Tue 29 March Howard Assembly Room Leeds, UK
Sat 2 April New River Studios London, UK
Sat 30 April The Crypt London, UK

On Isotach:

“Bourne's music has a delicacy that few musicians allow themselves to trust, opting instead to overfill airspace” All Music

“Spartan, hypnotic and beautiful, if gloriously unresolved” 4/5 The Guardian

“Bourne’s judicious minimalism proves compelling” 4/5 Mojo

“Delicate beauty that is nothing short of a subtle wonder to behold” Electronic Sound